Totally Biased With W. Kamau BellThursday, Aug. 9 (FX)Series Debut: Turns out that FX’s jump-ramp to the shark tank wasn’t Charlie Sheen’s Anger Management sitcom, but the staggeringly craptastic Brand X With Russell Brand, “the most painful 30 minutes in the history of recorded media” (according to The Only TV Column That Matters™). So it’s understandable to be skeptical about FX’s next stand-up/multimedia experiment, Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell. Difference here is: Bell is smart, political and, above all, funny, as well as being edgy in a sly, unassuming way that doesn’t scream “Look at me, ’Merica! I’m edgy!” This is how you follow Louis C.K.’s Louie—thanks for figuring that out, FX.

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BoogeymanSaturday, Aug. 11 (Syfy)Movie: Syfy’s original flicks come in three varieties: mega-budget epics (like the miniseries Tin Man, Alice, Neverland, etc.), cheap-o monster movies (Piranhaconda, Sharktopus, Dinocroc, et al) and the occasional filler with no cash or flash—such as Boogeyman. It has a Syfy actor who was probably already hanging around the studio lot (Warehouse 13’s Eddie McClintock), a been-there story (dumb local teens free a nasty ancient creature from captivity) and a requisite thought-they-were-dead star cameo, in this case … Emma Samms?! From ’80s General Hospital?! Can you get All My Children’s Michael E. Knight for C.H.U.D. 3: The C.H.U.D.ening, Syfy? Pleeeaaase?

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Animal PracticeSunday, Aug. 12 (NBC)Olympic Sneak Preview: Earlier this week, NBC dropped the pilot episode of Matthew Perry’s new sitcom, Go On, after Olympic programming, even though the series doesn’t technically premiere until September—apparently, they want as many viewers as possible to get used to not laughing early (seriously: Go On is bad, bad, bad). Same deal with Animal Practice, a slightly better (read: doesn’t induce suicidal urges) comedy, about a brilliant veterinarian (Weeds’ Justin Kirk) who gets along better with pets than humans—including his new boss/former girlfriend (JoAnna Garcia-Swisher). The cast, which also includes Tyler Labine, Bobby Lee and (yes) a monkey, is solid, but Animal Practice’s pilot is as frenetic and plot-light as a Nicktoon. Still, it’s the best new comedy NBC is busting out this month … did I mention that Go On is just soul-suckingly awful?

Speaking of DVD Reviews, ,

New DVD/VOD Tuesday, June 17

Following a night of drinking, Wendy Simpson, 25, walked to a McDonald’s restaurant in West Yorkshire, England, where she was told that the counter was closed and only the drive-through was open but that she couldn’t be served